The Technical University of Kenya has sent two students to France under the 7-month English Language Assistant Programme, a bilateral exchange initiative between the French and Kenyan governments. The programme, provides an opportunity for language assistants in Kenya to teach English in France while their counterparts from France teach French in Kenya.

Among the 2025 cohort is Majimbo Anyangu, a fourth-year BTech in Electrical Engineering student who was placed at Lycée Théophile Gautier in southern France. Majimbo takes to France a blend of technical excellence and linguistic curiosity. He will be teaching English in a general studies high school and looks forward to exploring one of the country’s richest cultural regions, an opportunity he prepared for through active involvement in the TU-K French Club.

Also part of this year’s group is Amos Nashisako, a fourth-year student pursuing a BSc in Building Construction. Amos is stationed at Lycée Général et Technologique de l’Europe in the northern city of Dunkerque. His placement in a technological and general high school will broaden his worldview and strengthen the intercultural skills he sharpened as a committed member of the French Club.

In addition to the two English Language assistants is John Munene, a TU-K alumnus. Although selected for the programme, John opted to pursue his Degree in Civil Engineering at Université de Technologie Tarbes Occitanie-Pyrénées (UTTOP) in France. He continues to elevate TU-K’s reputation abroad and actively advocates for future student exchanges between TU-K and French institutions.

Since the programme’s introduction in Kenya in 2019, more than 40 TU-K students have benefitted from this international experience, most of whom are active members of the dynamic TU-K French Club. Their success reflects the strength of the University’s multilingual community and its commitment to global engagement.

Dr. Teresa Atieno Otieno, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Science, Language and Communication Studies, has played a key role in guiding, training, and supporting French Club students. Her mentorship has equipped them with the confidence and skills needed to excel in the competitive international selection process conducted by the French Embassy in Kenya and Somalia.

TU-K Alumnus, Cyril Savai to represent Kenya in the 120^th Anniversary Celebration of the Language Assistant Programme in France.

Under the Language Assistants Programme, TU-K alumni continue to shine on the global stage, and one outstanding example is Cyril Savai, a Bachelor of Art, graduate in International Relations and Diplomacy and a former leader of the TU-K French Club. Cyril successfully completed two years in France as an English Language Assistant, where he distinguished himself through professionalism, cultural diplomacy, and an unwavering commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding.

His remarkable performance has earned him a prestigious nomination by France Éducation Internationale, through the French Embassy in Kenya and Somalia, to attend the 120^th Anniversary Celebration of the Language Assistant Programme in France. This honour places him among only two alumni worldwide selected for this year’s celebration, (one from Kenya and another from Argentina.) The event will be held from 3^rd to 4^th December 2025, marking a major milestone in the programme’s long history of global educational exchange.

Today, Cyril continues to demonstrate the power of international exposure and multilingual competence in professional spaces. He works with the BBC, monitoring East Africa and conducting research on Francophone countries, an ideal blend of his academic training, global experience, and passion for languages.

Cyril’s journey not only reflects personal excellence but also underscores TU-K’s commitment to nurturing globally engaged graduates who excel as ambassadors of the institution.